Chapter 11: The Davros
A few days later after Ike's talk with Hausen…
"Are you sure the both of you will be fine?" Ike asked the siblings, Nils and Ninian. Lyn was beside him also worried for the pair.
They looked at one another, then back to Ike and Lyn, and nodded.
"Thank you for everything, we'll be fine." Ninian reassured Ike.
"Let's meet again someday. Also…" Nils took out his flute. What he played was familiar. This was… Lyn's face turned from concern to joy upon hearing the lullaby.
"Did you listen to us that night?" Ike asked.
He nodded in response: "It was a very good song. Even though we didn't know what the lyrics meant."
Ike and Lyn didn't mind, so long as it was enjoyable.
"Farewell, until we meet again…" Ninian spoke, leaving with Nils in tow.
The pair saw the siblings off into the distance. Waving their goodbyes.
Ike then turned to Lyn, and spoke, "I might be back after checking Badon. I'm going with Guy and Rath to see if there's going to be a vessel that could take me to Tellius."
"Don't need to worry the fee, Ike! We'll-" only for Ike to raise her hand at her offer to pay for the voyage.
"There's no need for that, Lyn. Besides, it's going to be pricy. And it wouldn't be right to take from your coffers when Caelin needs to recover after Lundgren." Ike explained. "All the more reason that I continue my services in Elibe under the name of the Greil Mercenaries until I earn enough."
A good moment passed before Lyn decided to nod.
"I see… but I promised you I'd help reunite you with your family…" Lyn objected. Ike shook his head at her statement.
"I'll gain it on my own. Your grandfather sponsored me some work in villages where bandits frequent. Stay with your family. At any rate, we'll be able to see one another more often, so let's spar whenever we get the chance. Although, Guy might get the initiative to ask you first." Lyn's eyes beamed at the 2nd half of his explanation. They would be able to see and help one another whenever possible.
"Then I'll make sure you'll gain lots of work if your name is spread out. You'll make lots of gold in no time!" Lyn said with a excited expression. Ike nodded with her.
"I'm counting on you, Lyn."
It took about a day to reach Badon as it was in the Southern coast of Caelin. A major source of trade along the Lycian coastline. However, the trio of Greil Mercenaries that made it's way to the Port, it was clear that no villager was willing to go along with Ike's request or name a figure. Guy wanted to test his mettle at the Arena while Rath was requested by Ike to spot for him so he doesn't overdo it. It was a source of funds, so Ike didn't mind.
"Like I said, you're giving us a fool's errand. A voyage to some continent unknown to everyone in Elibe. No seafaring vessel is dumb nor adventurous enough to oblige without a proper chart or bearings." The villager explained. "It's almost as if you want to give sailors a death sentence by sending us to the Dread Isles."
Apparently, reaching to the island Valor or Dread Isles is considered a very treacherous due to rocks or unpredictable currents. It was surrounded by the Lycian coastlines. Moreover, the island itself is rather mysterious and filled with danger.
"…Listen, you seem honest, but even if this…Tellius exists, and you got kidnapped by pirates or some other awful experience, you won't find sailors willing to go without a proper map."
So it wasn't possible without getting a proper map. No map in Elibe could detail the entire world of the whereabout of Tellius at any rate. Ike was getting worried, even if Lyn or her grandfather helped fund the entire journey, it wouldn't mean much if ships had no direction to go to.
"Although…" The villager pondered, "You might find better luck with pirates here in the town. They've been residing in Badon for a few years now."
Now it was Ike's turn to look confused. Pirates rob people, how did they manage to reside here without trouble?
"I see that look on your face. Yep, but everyone got used to them. They don't actually steal and are more of the adventurous sort. The Davros pirates led by Fargus even helped the port at times. Maybe try your luck with them at the inn to the East." Upon explaining, the villager went off to help at the docks. Looking back at Ike, he called out again, "They might be celebrating in the inn tavern for their mate, Dart! Yesterday was a religious holiday for St. Elimine, and he was taken in the day after about four years ago. You'll be surprised that Fargus is pretty devout follower of St. Elimine."
So getting help from good pirates? If only every pirate was like that sort. Oh right, yesterday was a holiday, Lucius might have mentioned it at the Castle before he left. Surprising a pirate captain is of the religious sort. Ike pondered on the way to the tavern.
Meanwhile, at the coliseum, Guy faced one of the biggest challenges of his life. A fellow Sacaen with a white garb similar to Lyn's style, long black hair with a front fringe cut.
"And today! We celebrate the day Dart came under the Davros! Cheers!" Fargus shouted out with a mug of ale in the air. The other pirates lifted theirs in tow and drank.
Ike entered the inn tavern with everyone gulping their ale and singing their shanty. He saw a what appeared to be the captain. His purple robe unbuttoned with a pauldron on his right shoulder. Everyone to glimpse the stomach and muscles that were well pronounced. His face having a voluminous white beard and a bandana wrapped on the top of his head. This man… he could probably match his father in skill and experience… The man who he assumed was Dart had his shoulder patted by Fargus. Also wearing a bandana and a sailor's tank-top. His brown hair covered by the bandana wrapped around his head.
"Are you Captain Fargus of the Davros?" Ike called out.
Everyone's attention looked to him.
"Who's asking, whelp?" Fargus responded.
"I'm Ike of the Greil Mercenaries. I want to enlist you for a charter to reach Tellius, another continent." Ike explained.
Soon, all the pirates except Fargus looked to one another and laughed. A good moment passed filled with laughter. Meanwhile, off to the side, a brown haired man with a pronounced chin, and a red-hair woman with a ponytail fashioned to the left side of her head while having a pose with her index finger of her right hand on her chin. They looked at him with curiosity. All the while Ike remained stoic with Fargus observing him.
"There's no land of Tellius!" "Did you ask the captain to reach some dreamland?" "Maybe he got hired to trap us, as if he'll beat the captain!"
"Quiet, boys!" Fargus shouted out. Everyone in the tavern obeyed. "You… where are you from?" All the while Fargus looked into his eyes. His observing gaze was that of Wallace.
"I'm from Tellius. My home and family's work centered within the nation of Crimea. Northwest of the continent." Ike explained. "Under some strange circumstances, I was brought here to Elibe. I want to find a way back home."
Fargus observed Ike with a scrutinizing gaze. As if assessing the boy. He remained silent before closing his eyes.
"I could see it in your eyes, despite being a whelp, you're no liar. But without a proper map or navigational charts to where you want to go, a mooncalf like you can forget it." Fargus explained. "I may love a good challenge, and to a new continent… but sailing without knowing where to go may get us stranded without food or water."
Ike understood, he will do what he can to provide proper preparations for the Davros.
Suddenly, a voice came out interrupting the conversation. "Actually, me and Jake might be able to help you." Fargus glanced over to the redhead and Jake. "Let's just say one of my sisters might have something to help set a course for Tellius. But for the right price…" Fargus made a grin.
"Looks like the lovely Anna is our savior, you found a good one, Jake!" Everyone cheered for the couple. Jake scratching his head from the cheers of the pirates.
"However… the price will be 300,000 gold for setting course to Tellius." Everyone turned silent at her words. "That's not including Fargus's services escorting you."
Ike stood silent for a moment. Those kinds of funds well beyond what many would be able to see in their lives. It will be ardous work, but something he will try his best to fulfill. His eyes close for a moment before opening and nodding.
"I accept." And everyone once again cheered at his words.
"You've got my blood boiling, boy! Tell you what, I'll charge you a small fee in the end to set course. Once you make enough, then we'll talk. Don't worry too much about what you need to pay us. Just focus on paying Anna." Fargus spoke in a jovial mood. "Until then, celebrate with us boy! Yesterday was a St. Elimine holiday, and we were holding back to throw a celebration for the day we found Dart four years ago!"
"I'll take a rain check, I need to report to my men." Ike replied. But he appreciated the offer despite the men being rather merry pirates.
Whether Rath and Guy go along with 300,000 gold is a different story. Strangely enough, Ike pondered about four years ago. Didn't Wil and his friend Dan end up and separated in this town four years ago? Something to think about…
"Already running a mercenary band, at your age! I like ya, Lad!" Fargus laughed out.
Then, Fargus's mate Dart called out: "Cheers for Ike of the Greil Mercenaries!" And everyone drank at once.
Ike went out of the tavern while everyone was still celebrating inside. Ike smiled at how friendly those pirates were. No one would expect the captain a believer in St. Elimine. He wondered how Lucius and Serra would react.
Just as he was leaving for the coliseum, he heard footsteps from behind him. It was Anna.
"I don't know how exactly you managed to get here from Tellius. But something tells me you'll be one of our best customers…" Anna spoke with her curious pose with her finger on her chin. "Here… take these."
It appeared to be a scroll, a brown card and a note. Could that scroll be…?
"This scroll is native to your land that only one person can learn its skills from. So it's proof that you could trust me. However, each scroll will be a 5,000 gold, half the price of most promotional items, but this one is on me. Moreover," she pointed to the note and card, "20% of all purchases will be going towards your total for setting course to Tellius. Show any armory, merchant, or my sisters who look like me and they'll send their proceeds to Anna in Badon for recommending you to them. And the sisters who look like me, you could find them in rather obscure places. Show them the card and note, and you'll get access to rare wares along with the scrolls."
This will be immensely helpful and the fact that this occultic scroll is here was evidence that she believed in Ike. Tellius was out there somewhere. Right now, he had to earn his way back home. And the fact he'll be able to purchase scrolls to give to others was appreciated.
"Thank you. I'll be requesting your services from here on out."
She smiled and replied: "Pleasure doing business with you!"
Ike headed over to the Arena to meet up with Guy and Rath. Within the waiting area for fighters, Guy was being patched up by Rath with a vulnerary at the side. They noticed Ike walk up to them.
"B-boss!" Guy stammered, "You'll never believe who I fought! I-I fought the 'Princess of Swords'!"
Ike curiously looked towards Rath for an explanation. Rath nodded and spoke: "She's a fellow Sacaen who is renowned with her skill with a blade… She may even defeat Lyn from what I saw."
Wow. To surpass Lyn in sword skills is a pretty high ladder to climb. Apparently looking at what Guy just experienced, he isn't ashamed of the loss.
"Don't worry! I'll catch up to her eventually! If you saw, I even gave her a scratch!" Guy pointed out. "One day, I'll go toe-to-toe with even the 'Sword Demon'! J-just you wait!"
He stammered but you could tell it was from his excitement. Or eagerness to prove to the world he could become the best. The Sword Princess and Sword Demon. Huh.
Rath nodded while keeping his stoic expression. "Indeed… you are on the right path to becoming the best swordsman. The fact you harmed her managed to prove how far you've come."
Looks like Guy is being encouraged by own tribe mate. Ike was confident Guy will someday be one of the best swordsman at the very least.
"By the way, Commander, did you manage to find a ship willing to take you?" Guy asked. Rath looked to Ike for his response.
"Pirates called the Davros. But I have to pay 300,000 gold to get a course for Tellius." Ike ignored the dumbfounded face of Guy and the widened eyes of Rath. "I'll tell you the rest of the situation once we get back to Castle Caelin or at least on the way."
"Well then, since I'm here, I'll take a try at entering the arena." Ike spoke as he walked to the host. Paying some gold, he entered the stage. The duo saw him off as he entered the stage. Filled with crowds of people in the sidelines, he awaited for his opponent to appear from the opposing gate. What appeared to be a fellow mercenary slightly older than Ike. With short red hair and brown eyes, and his countenance looking to be a scowl.
Ike's opponent stared down at him, and glanced over to the stiletto on his waist belt, and widened his eyes.
"You… where did you get that dagger?" He voiced out. Ike's expression turned to surprise. Who was this person?
"A friend of mine gave it to me. He wanted to let go of his grief." Ike explained. Only for the man's glare to intensify.
Was this person… Based on his reaction and whom Lucius was friends with, he may have confided the details of the dagger to the son of House Cornwell. Was this man Raymond?
The man in question unsheathed his blade, pointing it at Ike, and spoke threateningly: "I don't like being lied to, and you'll tell me where Lucius is."
"Are you Lucius's friend, Raymond? We don't need to fight like this." Ike pointed out. It seems as though there was a misunderstanding.
"There's no way Lucius would entrust the dagger that killed his father to just anyone. Nice try, where did you steal his knife? Where is he?" Raymond badgered Ike to answer him.
"Hey, hurry up and fight!" The announcer called out.
Ike sighed and readied his iron sword. This was unreasonable. There was only one way to deal with this situation and that was to fight.
Raymond quickly launched his blade up into the air and somersaulted, grabbing the blade midair and aim the sword at Ike. Ike's eyes widened at the display. It was similar to the Aether technique his father compiled for himself.
Ike quickly shuffled back away from the striking radius and Raymond's sword remained stuck into the ground he struck. Powerful, but left Raymond for an opening. Ike took the opportunity to move forward putting one foot onto the sword, preventing Raymond from pulling the blade out. Ike's own blade tip was placed underneath the Raymond's chin. The match was over. The sound of cheers upon Ike's victory. Raymond let off a tsk upon being defeated.
"I'm heading back to Caelin after this. Come with me, Raymond, I'll take you back where Lucius is." Ike announced.
Raymond resigned himself to the guy whom Lucius supposedly entrusted his dagger to. As long as his best friend was safe and sound, it would be fine.
"Alright, take me to him. But don't call me Raymond." Looking straight into Ike's eyes as he spoke. "My name is Raven now."
So he changed his name. Fine then, it wasn't his place to question it.
"Ike of the Greil Mercenaries." Ike introduced himself. Raven raised his eyebrows at the name. "I'll escort you to Lucius."
Raven pondered at the name. So this guy was involved with that whole political inheritance issue a while back. He was a wanted man by Lundgren before he died. He decided to depart for Caelin to meet his friend once more. So long as his friend was safe, that was all that mattered for the time being. Regrouping with the others who were a pair of Sacaens. One of them inquiring about the Davros pirates in town and 300,000 gold. Raven wondered what made the two who appeared to be polar opposites in terms of temperament to follow this mercenary.
And thus, the Greil Mercenaries departed to return to Castle Caelin with Raven in tow.